Can I switch from a retirement extension to a marriage visa without keeping my bank account in Thailand?

Thailand visa marriage visa retirement visa bank account requirements expat living in Thailand visa extension financial proof for visa

Jan 31, 2025

2 days ago

Mark **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I'm currently on an extension for retirement which will expire in August but I want to change to marriage. The GSB bank has now stopped the app on the phone for foreigners so I want to close this account but if I'm changing to marriage visa do I still need to keep this account with the minimum 400000 baht in for the retirement visa?

897

views

likes

all likes

replies

images

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is currently on a retirement visa extension set to expire in August and wishes to switch to a marriage visa. They are concerned about the necessity of keeping 400,000 baht in their retirement account due to recent changes with the GSB bank application for foreigners. Commenters advise that since they used the banked money method for their current visa, they must continue to meet the financial requirements until they apply for the marriage visa, and any changes in the bank account should be managed carefully to maintain compliance.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

Todd ********

Change banks

2 days ago

Chris *************

Was curious how easy/difficult it would be to do the same thing. For someone to go from a. Extension based on retirement to marriage without leaving the country.

2 days ago

Graham ******

@Chris ************

You do as outlined above with the finances and meet the extra requirements demanded for a marriage extension

2 days ago

Reply to

Graham ******

Tod *********

If you used banked money method as your proof of funds for the extension you're currently on now you do indeed need to continue to meet the seasoning requirement

That means you kept 800K baht in the account for 3 months after the extension was granted last year and then don't let the balance go below 400K baht the whole rest of the year until you apply for a new yearly extension.

I would say as long as you didn't have any "down time" between switching the accounts (as in all the money was moved electronically from one account to another instantly) you'd be okay. Pulling it out in cash and redepositing it in another account would not work. 😕

You have to show that year transaction report that you kept a balance of 400K baht when you go to get the new extension based on marriage because you were on one based on retirement using banked money.

2 days ago

Mark **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Thanks you have made it very clear 👍

2 days ago

Jakob *********

@Tod ********

I transferred my 800,000 into another bank, was able to transfer only 49,999 at once, done it over time, and had no problem, not even got questioned about it. The money was always there in the bank

I done it from home on the phone

2 days ago

Tod *********

@Jakob ********

right as long as the total in ALL the banks doesn't go below the threshold you usually are good

Many people when they move banks transfer 400K baht to the new account, once it's there then they move the other 400K baht to it, that way even if the immigration office only allows one bank account (which some do) the minimum required amount was in it

2 days ago

Jakob *********

@Tod ********

I would had to go to the bank to transfer 400,000, it never went below 400,000 in either account, as I have well over 800,000 in the account all the time

2 days ago

Reply to

Jakob *********

Matthew *********

How much money did you make on interest for them holding your money. And isn't it funny you need less financial for being married than single.

2 days ago

Jakob *********

@Matthew ********

on 800,000 or so about a bit over 6 baht a day, I usually got over 900,000 in it all the time, which gives around 7.4 baht a day

2 days ago

Reply to

Jakob *********